RSS Feed
|
|||||
|
Expert Advice On How To Protect Your Home Year-Round (SPM Wire) You shouldn't have to worry whether your house and your valuables are safe from burglars while you're out and about. Being smart about keeping your home safe all year means more than just making sure your doors and windows are locked. To help make your home more secure year-round, Protection One, an electronic security company, is sharing these handy tips: •Avoid displaying gifts where they can easily be seen through windows, and take care when disposing of product packaging, so that you aren't "advertising" recent, high-dollar purchases. •To reduce the chance of easy entry, cut tree limbs away from second-story windows. •Secure objects that might allow access to your home, such as ladders or trashcans that could be used to enter a window or scale a fence. •To prevent hiding places for intruders, trim bushes to expose branch structure. •To illuminate entries, install motion lights. •Install easy-to-read and illuminated address numbers so emergency personnel can easily locate your home. •Be aware of usual and unusual neighborhood activities and report suspicious behavior. •Secure all windows, including those upstairs. •Never leave a key hidden outside. Burglars know all the best hiding places. •Install peepholes and ask to see identification from service and delivery people. •Install deadbolt locks on exterior entrances. When leaving home for an extended period of time, such as for a vacation, follow these simple steps to help your home appear occupied and to deter burglars: •Leave blinds and curtains in everyday positions. •Use timers to operate lights. •Turn your telephone ringer down, so no one outside can hear repeated rings. •Review your answering machine, and make sure it does not imply you are away. •Arrange for continuing yard care. •Ask a friend to pick up deliveries, or have deliveries stopped. •If your car is parked in the driveway, have a friend move it occasionally. And if your home is protected by a security system, be sure to test your system monthly to ensure it is working properly before an emergency occurs. You can help prevent false alarms by providing instructions on the operation of your system to houseguests. Also, avoid placing moving ornaments or decorations in the path of motion detectors. For more free home security tips, visit www.protectionone.com.
|
for larger version       |
||||
